VINDICTIVE

Report: Trump Urges GOP Lawmakers to Block Hudson Rail Tunnel

Partly to spite his Democratic rivals.

President Trump has reportedly been urging Republican lawmakers to oppose funding for a major railway project to spite his Democratic rivals, The New York Times reports. The so-called Gateway project, which would see a rail tunnel constructed to connect New York and New Jersey, has been a top priority in the region for years and is expected to be included in an upcoming spending bill. But Trump personally called on Speaker Paul Ryan to come out against funding the $30 billion project earlier this week, the Washington Post first reported Friday. His opposition to the tunnel—which is meant to replace aging infrastructure in urgent need of an overhaul—first became clear in December, when local authorities were informed the deal earlier reached under Obama for the project was now “nonexistent.” Trump's recent arguments against the project have reportedly taken on a personal tone, however. According to sources cited by the Times, Trump has told Republicans the project should be blocked partly to get back at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who has regularly blocked Trump's nominees.